Thousands expected at slain MIT officer's service

This undated photo provided by the Middlesex District Attorney's Office shows Massachusetts Institute of Technology Police Officer Sean Collier, 26, of Somerville, Mass., who was shot to death Thursday, April 18, 2013 on the school campus in Cambridge, Mass. Thousands of MIT students, faculty and staff as well as law enforcement officials from across the nation are expected to attend a memorial service for fallen campus police officer Sean Collier. MIT officials say they are expecting as many as
— AP

This undated photo provided by the Middlesex District Attorney's Office shows Massachusetts Institute of Technology Police Officer Sean Collier, 26, of Somerville, Mass., who was shot to death Thursday, April 18, 2013 on the school campus in Cambridge, Mass. Thousands of MIT students, faculty and staff as well as law enforcement officials from across the nation are expected to attend a memorial service for fallen campus police officer Sean Collier. MIT officials say they are expecting as many as
/ AP

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. 
Thousands of Massachusetts Institute of Technology students, faculty and staff as well as law enforcement officials from across the nation are lining up for a solemn tribute to fallen campus police officer Sean Collier.

MIT officials say they are expecting as many as 10,000 people at Wednesday's service at Briggs Field.

The line of mourners stretched for about a half mile an hour before the ceremony was scheduled to start. They had to make their way through tight security, including metal detectors and bomb-sniffing dogs.

Authorities say Collier was killed by the Boston Marathon bombing suspects Thursday. He had worked for the department a little more than a year.

Vice President Joe Biden, MIT President L. Rafael Reif, police chief John DiFava and members of Collier's family are scheduled to speak.